Fees and Funding

Scholarship Opportunities

Faculty of Social Sciences Scholarships

The University of Sheffield, Faculty of Social Sciences has funding for a significant number of PhD scholarships for 2018/19 entry. These include Faculty Doctoral Academy scholarships, and ESRC scholarships available through our White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership competition. We awarded a total of 26 ESRC and Doctoral Academy scholarships in 2017.

As home to some of the UK's leading researchers, the Faculty of Social Sciences is renowned for its high-quality and high-impact research.

We work collaboratively with a range of partners in academia and industry, and carry out world class research that makes a difference. We are seeking ambitious, talented graduates or postgraduates to join us on our PhD scholarships. Applicants should aspire to contribute to world-leading research and to make a difference in the world.

We strongly encourage interdisciplinary and collaborative PhD applications in the following broad areas:

Cities, Environment and Liveability

Security, Conflict and Justice

Education Childhood and Youth

Data, Communication and New Technologies

Wellbeing, Health and Communities

Sustainable Growth, Management and Economic Productivity

Civil Society, Development and Democracy

What our scholarships cover

Our scholarships cover:

Tuition fees

An annual stipend to cover living expenses equivalent to UK Research Council rates

Research Training Support Grant

All scholarships are available as a +3 (PhD) or a 1+3 (Masters and PhD), as well as on a full- or part-time basis.

Eligibility

Our Faculty Doctoral Academy scholarships are open to applicants of any nationality and in any discipline within the Faculty of Social Sciences. Most ESRC White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership scholarships are open to UK and EU applicants; there may be limited opportunities for overseas students, and all applicants should check ESRC White Rose DTP guidance before making an application.

To apply for 1+3 scholarship funding, you will need:

Qualifications or experience equal to a first or upper second class honours degree or an equivalent combination of qualifications and/or experience
To apply for +3 PhD funding, you will need:

Qualifications or experience equal to a Merit or Distinction in a Master’s degree or an equivalent combination of qualifications and/or experience

All our scholarships can be held in any department within the Faculty. Initial enquiries should be made directly to the academic department in which you wish to study. Our departments include traditional social science subjects as well as areas including physical geography and humanities.

Training

We offer an outstanding academic environment for our PhD students. We provide an interdisciplinary research experience and advanced training to all our PhD students, regardless of scholarship funding source. There are extensive training opportunities within the ESRC White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership, which is led by University of Sheffield. Further information about our Social Sciences Doctoral Training.

There are also opportunities for three month internships with public, private and voluntary organisations which enable students to apply their research skills to a more practical environment. Previous students have benefited from internships at organisations such as the Department of Work and Pensions and Oxfam.

Timescales and how to apply

Applications are now open. The deadline for scholarship applications is 5.00pm on 23 January 2019. Information on the scholarship application process can be found here.

University Scholarships

Applications are now open. The deadline for scholarship applications is 5.00pm on 23 January 2019. Information on the scholarship application process can be found here.